arXiv subjects

Erin P. J. Pearse

Publications and source records attributed to Erin P. J. Pearse.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Operator theory of electrical resistance networks

A resistance network is a weighted graph $(G,c)$ with intrinsic (resistance) metric $R$. We embed the resistance network into the Hilbert space ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$ of functions of finite energy. We use the resistance metric to study ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$, and vice versa and show that the embedded images of the vertices $\{v_x\}$ form a reproducing kernel for this Hilbert space. We also obtain a discrete version of the Gauss-Green formula for resistance networks and show that resistance networks which support nonconstant harmonic functions of finite energy have a certain type of \emph{boundary}. We obtain an analytic boundary representation for the harmonic functions of finite energy in a sense analogous to the Poisson or Martin boundary representations, but with different hypotheses, and for a different class of functions. In the process, we construct a dense space of "smooth" functions of finite energy and obtain a Gel'fand triple for ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$. This allows us to represent the resistance network as a system of Gaussian random variables indexed by vertices. We also study the spectral representation for $Δ$ on ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$ and show how nonzero defect entails a nontrivial boundary. All of the above are are detected by the operator theory of ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$ but not $\ell^2$. Our results apply to the Heisenberg model for the isotropic ferromagnet, improving earlier results of R. T. Powers on the problem of long-range order (in reference to KMS states on the $C^\ast$-algebra of the model).

math.OA↗

arXiv2009

A Hilbert space approach to effective resistance metric

A resistance network is a connected graph $(G,c)$. The conductance function $c_{xy}$ weights the edges, which are then interpreted as conductors of possibly varying strengths. The Dirichlet energy form $\mathcal E$ produces a Hilbert space structure (which we call the energy space ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$) on the space of functions of finite energy. We use the reproducing kernel $\{v_x\}$ constructed in \cite{DGG} to analyze the effective resistance $R$, which is a natural metric for such a network. It is known that when $(G,c)$ supports nonconstant harmonic functions of finite energy, the effective resistance metric is not unique. The two most natural choices for $R(x,y)$ are the ``free resistance'' $R^F$, and the ``wired resistance'' $R^W$. We define $R^F$ and $R^W$ in terms of the functions $v_x$ (and certain projections of them). This provides a way to express $R^F$ and $R^W$ as norms of certain operators, and explain $R^F \neq R^W$ in terms of Neumann vs. Dirichlet boundary conditions. We show that the metric space $(G,R^F)$ embeds isometrically into ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$, and the metric space $(G,R^W)$ embeds isometrically into the closure of the space of finitely supported functions; a subspace of ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$. Typically, $R^F$ and $R^W$ are computed as limits of restrictions to finite subnetworks. A third formulation $R^{tr}$ is given in terms of the trace of the Dirichlet form $\mathcal E$ to finite subnetworks. A probabilistic approach shows that in the limit, $R^{tr}$ coincides with $R^F$. This suggests a comparison between the probabilistic interpretations of $R^F$ vs. $R^W$.

math.FA↗

arXiv2009

Geometry of canonical self-similar tilings

We give several different geometric characterizations of the situation in which the parallel set $F_ε$ of a self-similar set $F$ can be described by the inner $ε$-parallel set $T_{-ε}$ of the associated canonical tiling $\mathcal T$, in the sense of \cite{SST}. For example, $F_ε=T_{-ε} \cup C_ε$ if and only if the boundary of the convex hull $C$ of $F$ is a subset of $F$, or if the boundary of $E$, the unbounded portion of the complement of $F$, is the boundary of a convex set. In the characterized situation, the tiling allows one to obtain a tube formula for $F$, i.e., an expression for the volume of $F_ε$ as a function of $ε$. On the way, we clarify some geometric properties of canonical tilings. Motivated by the search for tube formulas, we give a generalization of the tiling construction which applies to all self-affine sets $F$ having empty interior and satisfying the open set condition. We also characterize the relation between the parallel sets of $F$ and these tilings.

math.MG↗

arXiv2009

The resolvent kernel for PCF self-similar fractals

For the Laplacian $Δ$ defined on a p.c.f. self-similar fractal, we give an explicit formula for the resolvent kernel of the Laplacian with Dirichlet boundary conditions, and also with Neumann boundary conditions. That is, we construct a symmetric function $G^{(λ)}$ which solves $(λ\mathbb{I} - Δ)^{-1} f(x) = \int G^{(λ)}(x,y) f(y) dμ(y)$. The method is similar to Kigami's construction of the Green kernel in \cite[\S3.5]{Kig01} and is expressed as a sum of scaled and "translated" copies of a certain function $ψ^{(λ)}$ which may be considered as a fundamental solution of the resolvent equation. Examples of the explicit resolvent kernel formula are given for the unit interval, standard Sierpinski gasket, and the level-3 Sierpinski gasket $SG_3$.

math.AP↗

arXiv2007

Tube formulas for self-similar fractals

Tube formulas (by which we mean an explicit formula for the volume of an $ε$-neighbourhood of a subset of a suitable metric space) have been used in many situations to study properties of the subset. For smooth submanifolds of Euclidean space, this includes Weyl's celebrated results on spectral asymptotics, and the subsequent relation between curvature and spectrum. Additionally, a tube formula contains information about the dimension and measurability of rough sets. In convex geometry, the tube formula of a convex subset of Euclidean space allows for the definition of certain curvature measures. These measures describe the curvature of sets which are not too irregular to support derivatives. In this survey paper, we describe some recent advances in the development of tube formulas for self-similar fractals, and their applications and connections to the other topics mentioned here.

math.DS↗

arXiv2007

Canonical self-affine tilings by iterated function systems

An iterated function system $Φ$ consisting of contractive similarity mappings has a unique attractor $F \subseteq \mathbb{R}^d$ which is invariant under the action of the system, as was shown by Hutchinson [Hut]. This paper shows how the action of the function system naturally produces a tiling $\mathcal{T}$ of the convex hull of the attractor. More precisely, it tiles the complement of the attractor within its convex hull. These tiles form a collection of sets whose geometry is typically much simpler than that of $F$, yet retains key information about both $F$ and $Φ$. In particular, the tiles encode all the scaling data of $Φ$. We give the construction, along with some examples and applications. The tiling $\mathcal{T}$ is the foundation for the higher-dimensional extension of the theory of \emph{complex dimensions} which was developed for the case $d=1$ in ``Fractal Geometry, Complex Dimensions, and Zeros of Zeta Functions,'' by Michel L. Lapidus and Machiel van Frankenhuijsen.

math.MG↗

arXiv2005

A tube formula for the Koch snowflake curve, with applications to complex dimensions

A formula for the interior epsilon-neighborhood of the classical von Koch snowflake curve is computed in detail. This function of epsilon is shown to match quite closely with earlier predictions of what it should be, but is also much more precise. The resulting `tube formula' is expressed in terms of the Fourier coefficients of a suitable nonlinear and periodic analogue of the standard Cantor staircase function and reflects the self-similarity of the Koch curve. As a consequence, the possible complex dimensions of the Koch snowflake are computed explicitly.

math-ph↗